Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Slithering snakes: The science behind the motion of a young anaconda
The motion of snakes has long fascinated humans: they undulate, they sidewind, they crawl, they even fly.
Sturdy nursery for shellfish turns out to be a predator buffet
Shellfish beds or reefs, formed by mussels and oysters, have declined worldwide. Sterre Witte, who conducted her Ph.D. research at the NIOZ Coastal Systems department, has investigated how we can...
Christina Hendricks: Patti-Nan dynamics 'flip-flop' in 'Buccaneers' S2
Christina Hendricks told UPI Patti, the socialite she plays in "The Buccaneers," is once again close to her daughter Nan (Kristine Frøseth) in Season 2 after secrets and lies caused...
Coral babies on the move: How larvae's long-distance journeys strengthen reef populations
Understanding how far Great Barrier Reef corals are from their parents could be key to identifying and protecting at-risk populations, University of Queensland research has found.
Bioplastic shelters support algae growth in Mars-like conditions for space habitats
If humans are ever going to live beyond Earth, they'll need to construct habitats. But transporting enough industrial material to create livable spaces would be incredibly challenging and expensive. Researchers...
Two new species of Ericaceae reported from Motuo County, Xizang
In a study published in Taiwania, researchers from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences identified two new species of flowering plants in the remote forests...
Wild orcas offer humans food. Could they be trying to make friends — or manipulate us?
Researchers have documented orcas dropping prey and other marine life in front of humans, as if offering us food. The orcas' motives are uncertain, but the sharing behavior could be...
Watch: Barbra Streisand, Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande reflect on 'One Heart' collab
In a new video, Barbra Streisand, Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande discuss what it was like collaborating on Streisand's song "One Heart, One Voice."
When bacteria remember: P. aeruginosa may use epigenetic memory for enhanced infection success
An international research team led by the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI) has discovered a new strategy used by the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa to adapt to its host....
Researchers discover link between key protein and brain synapse development
Scientists have uncovered how a protein helps build and maintain vital brain connections, providing insights into the neurological problems experienced by people with a rare form of muscular dystrophy known...
Biologgers on large sharks show rays wielding a shocking defense strategy in the wild
While more traditional defense methods like camouflage, venom and spines appear ineffective against large sharks and mammals, electric rays are sending out electric discharges to fend off sharks in dangerous...
Light pollution has more dramatic effect on circadian rhythms of social birds than isolated birds, study finds
Light pollution, or artificial light at night (ALAN), is a widespread phenomenon in areas with dense human populations. Normally, animals use natural external cues, like sunlight and temperature, to synchronize...
Targeted for Immunity: A Transporter's Journey to the Chloroplast
Plants are constantly under siege by pathogens, and their survival depends on precise internal defense strategies. A new study uncovers how StGPT1, a sugar transporter protein, and StRFP1, a regulatory...
The imitation game: Why some species are better at fooling predators than others
Experts from the University of Nottingham have created life-size 3D-printed insect models to explore how some species trick predators into thinking they're more dangerous than they really are—and avoid being...
Artificial nucleolus model reveals step-by-step process of ribosome assembly
Proteins are the infinitely varied chemicals that make cells work, and science has a pretty good idea how they are made. But a critical aspect underlying the machinery of protein...
Domesticated carp show considerably lower stress to catch-and-release fishing
Common carp which are reared in fish-farms, stocked into recreational fisheries and then captured regularly by catch-and-release angling show much lower chronic stress levels than their wild counterparts that never...
Could electric brain stimulation lead to better math skills?
A painless, noninvasive brain stimulation technique can significantly improve how young adults learn math, my colleagues and I found in a recent study. In a paper in PLOS Biology, we...
Surprising ion transport behavior in nanofiltration membranes could reshape lithium recovery
A research team led by Prof. Wan Yinhua from the Institute of Process Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has uncovered a surprising new mechanism that fundamentally alters our...
Affectionate 'tongue nibbling' observed for the first time among orcas in the wild
A study published in the journal Oceans details the remarkable chance encounter between a group of citizen scientists on a snorkeling expedition in the Kvænangen fjords of Norway and a...
Decades-old mystery solved: How Gram-negative bacteria keep their outer membrane intact
Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have solved a 60-year-old mystery in bacterial cell envelope biology, defining the primary function of an important protein complex responsible for maintaining...
Meet the man using AI to clone his voice before he loses it to ALS
Dr. Alec Cooper is recording himself reciting common sayings, elaborate poems and his favourite books as part of the process to clone his voice before his condition deteriorates.
6-PPD Quinone at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations Disrupts Citric Acid Cycle in Caenorhabditis Elegans: Role of Reduction in Acetyl CoA and Pyruvate Contents
Researchers explore how 6-PPD quinone (6-PPDQ), an environmental contaminant derived from tire antioxidant N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD), affects the citric acid cycle in C. elegans at environmentally relevant concentrations. The research reveals...
As this tiny frog disappears from Canada, conservationist warn fast-tracking bills put more species at risk
The Blanchard’s Cricket Frog, once found in the wetlands of Ontario's Pelee Island, is being reclassified from endangered to locally extinct. Some conservationists warn that recent legislation meant to fast-track...
Safely Navigating Treetops Thanks to a Scaly Tail
African scaly-tailed squirrels use their scaled tails to safely move across the smooth bark of trees in their native rainforest habitats.
The US plans to begin breeding billions of flies to fight a pest. Here is how it will work
The U.S. government is preparing to breed billions of flies and dump them out of airplanes over Mexico and southern Texas to fight a flesh-eating maggot.
Shaped by paleogeography: A new world map of marine mollusks
Biogeographical regions of marine organisms, i.e., their distribution across different habitats, often overlap well with the major global ocean currents. The geological age of the currents plays a major role...
Illegal shark product trade evident in Australia and New Zealand
Research from the University of Adelaide's School of Biological Sciences and Wildlife Crime Research Hub has highlighted evidence of shark products entering both Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand, including clear patterns...
Illegal Shark Product Trade Evident in Australia and New Zealand
Research from the University of Adelaide's School of Biological Sciences and Wildlife Crime Research Hub has highlighted evidence of shark products entering both Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand, including clear patterns...